Filing device



D. M. PEEBLE'S FILING DEVICE June 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June25, 1961 FIG.

FLG.4.

" INVEN'TOR 2' DAVID M. PEEBLES BY 6 W W/-- ATTORNEY June 23, 1964 D. M.PEEBLES 3,138,283

FILING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 38 FIG. 5. 45 47 I lI l l l I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,138,283 FILING DEVE CE DavidMeade Peeules, 2912 (Iortland Place NW., ilashington, DE. Filed June 23,1961, Ser. No. 119,694- 1 Claim. (Cl. 226-22) This invention relates tofiling racks or trays and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide filing racks or trays adaptedto be used alone or in conjunction with storage boxes or filing cabinetdrawers for the orderly storage of papers, files or documents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filing devicecharacterized by the fact that it may be fabricated substantially from aunitary blank of sheet metal or the like, economically and by modernproduction methods.

Another object is to provide a filing device having a permanent numberof filing compartments and interchangeable partition means to formauxiliary compartments without altering the basic structure of thedevice or interfering with its general utility.

Still another object is to provide a filing device of the type mentionedwhich meets a need not previously satisfied by the prior art and whichis versatile in its usage, sturdy and durable and neat and attractive inappearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a blank employed in the fabrication of afiling device according to a first simplified embodiment of theinvention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the completed filing device,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the same,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed filing deviceillustrating optional use of the same in conjunction with a well-knowntype of storage box,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank employed for making a modified formof filing device according to the invention,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of the completed filing device made fromthe blank of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of the same,

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the same also showing optionalinterchangeable partition means for use with the filing device toprovide auxiliary filing compartments,

FIGURE 9 is an exploded, partly diagrammatic, perspective view ofmodified optional partition means and an anchoring plate therefor foruse with the filing device shown in FIGURES 6S, the latter being shownin phantom lines, 7

FIGURE 10 is a plan View of a modified form of anchoring plate for theoptional partition means,

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of partition means for use with theanchoring plate of FIGURE 10 and the filing device of FIGURES 6-8, 1 7

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a unitary blank employed in the making of afurther modified form of filing device according to the invention,

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the device made from the blank shownin FIGURE 12'.

In the drawings, wherein for thepurpose ofv illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first toFIGURES 1 through 4,'wherein the numeral 20 designates generally a onepiece fiat elongated rectangular blank formed of sheet metal, or thelike, and.

from which the entire filing device is made.

The blank 29 is cut by a stamping process or the like ice to providetherein an innermost spaced pair of solid rectangular leaves 21, anintermediate pair of leaves 22and an outer or endmost pair of leaves 23,all integral with the flat blank 20 as shown in FIGURE 1. The inner pairof leaves 21 are bendable upon transverse bending lines 24- near thelongitudinal center of the blank and parallel and spaced apart, asshown, and extending between the ends of the U-shaped cuts 25 whichdefine the margins of the leaves 21. The intermediate and endmostleaves. 22 and 23 are bendable upon similar transverse bending lines 26and 27. All of the bending lines 24, 26 and 27 may be formed by scoringthe blank 20 or by perforating, partially perforating or indenting theblank in known ways along the several bending lines. The bending lines25 for the leaves 22 extend between the U-shaped cuts 25and similaralthough larger U-shaped cuts 28 which define the margins of theintermediate leaves 22 in the blank. The bending lines 27 extend betweenthe sides of the cuts 28 and the longitudinal edges of the blank 20, asshown. As is apparent from an inspection of FIGURE l, the U-shaped cuts25 and 28 interfit in a symmetrical mannerwith respect to thelongitudinal center of the blank and the exterior margins thereof, sothat the several bendableleaves 21, 22 and 23 are symmetrically formedand disposed in the blank, as shown. The lengths of all of the leaves21, 22 and 23 measured from their bending lines 24, 26 and 27 toward theends of the blank are equal, but the transverse widths of the severalleaves are symmetrically unequal as clearly shown. The endmost leaves23. span the full width of the blank 2%, while the leaves 22 and 21 spansuccessively lesser portions of the total width of the blank. Thegenerally I-shaped area 29 of the blank Zll defined by the longitudinaledges 30, the bending lines 24, 26 and 27 and portions of the cuts. 25and 28 constitutes the bottom Wall of the completed filing device shownin FIGURES 2-4 and presently to bedescribed.

' With reference to FIGURES 24, in the completing ot the filing rack ortray, the several leaves 21, 22'and 23 are bent upwardly upon the lines24, 26 and 27 until they are disposed at right angles to the area 29 ofthe blank. The now upstanding leaves 21, 22 and 23 integral With thebottom wall 2?, FIGURE '2, constitute the several divider orpartition'walls of the filing device, the latter containing the severaltransverse top opening filing or storage compartmentsGI, 32, 33, 34 and35 formed between adjacent pairs of the partition walls as shown in thedrawings. As clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the upward bending of theleaves 21, 22 and 23in the'completed device forms relatively largeopenings 36 and 37 in the endmost and intermediate upstanding partitionWalls, whereas the innermost partition walls 21 have no openings. Theseopenings 36 and 37 also extend through the bottom wall of the completedarticle as shown in FIGURE 4, and the openings are defined by thepreviously described cuts 25 and 28' of the blank 24), as should beobvious. In the completed article, the tops of the several partitionwalls areall disposed at the same elevation and the bottom wall of the Idevice is flat. The deviceis entirely unitary or one piece constructionand requires no fastener elements, attaching parts or, adjuncts of anyform whatsoever. The edgesof the blank 20 and the marginal edges of theupstanding partition walls and the edges of the openings 36.,and" 37 aresmooth and free of burrs and the like. The device canof course bepainted or decorated in any desired man ner or. plated with metal. Itmay be used conveniently and alone as a desk filing rack or tray for.papers and files of various sorts. As depicted in FIGURE 4 of thedrawings, the device may be placed in a conventional file storage box orin a filing cabinet drawer to provide convenient file dividermeanstherein. The filing device. of

FIGURES 1-4 is capable of a variety-of useful applications as will beobvious to those skilled in the art.

In FIGURES through 11, there is shown certain refinements andmodifications of the invention which render the filing device moreversatile.

Referring first to FIGURES 5 through 8, the numeral 38 designates ablank formed of sheet metal or the like basically similar to thepreviously-described blank 20. An inner pair of symmetrically locatedrectangular leaves 39 formed by U-shaped cuts 40 are providedsymmetrically in the blank 38 and bendable at their inner ends upontransverse bending lines 41, similar to those previously described. Endportions 42 of the blank 38 are similarly bendable upon transversebending lines 43, as shown. The I-shaped area 44 of the blank 38outlined by the bending lines 41 and 43, portions of the cuts 40, andthe longitudinal edges 45 constitutes the bottom wall of the completedfiling device shown in FIGURES 6-8, as in the previously-describedembodiment of the invention.

Additionally, for purposes soon to become apparent, the central area ofthe blank 38 between folding lines 41 is provided with a plurality ofnarrow transverse equidistantly spaced parallel slots 46 of'equallength, whose opposite ends are disposed just outwardly of the sides ofcuts 40 and somewhat inwardly of the blank edges 45. The blank isfurther provided along the sides of the cuts 40 with similarly spacedshort notches 47 having their outer ends in longitudinal alignment withthe ends of the slots 46.

With reference to FIGURES 6 through 8, the leaves 39 and 42 are bentupwardly on the bending lines 41 and 43 to complete the formation of thebasic filing unit in the same manner previously described in theprevious embodiment. The device shown in FIGURES 6 through 8 embodiesthree upwardly opening storage compartments 48, 49 and 50, as shown. Thefiling device as thus far described is basically similar to the deviceshown in FIGURES 1-4, and may be used in the same manner above describedfor the prior form of the invention.

However, in FIGURE 8, there is illustrated an auxiliary partition wall51 engageable through selected pairs of the notches 47, as shown, toprovide auxiliary or supplemental storage compartments between theadjacent fixed partition walls 39 and 42. The auxiliary partition wall51 has an integral bottom horizontal flange 53 for engagement below thebottom wall 44 when the partition L wall 51 is slid upwardly into place.The weight of the main storage device embodying the bottom wall 44 issulficient to stabilize the auxiliary partition wall 51 in assembly, aswhen the filing device is resting upon a desk or table or within a box,and no separate fasteners for the partition wall 51 are required.Obviously, one or more of the auxiliary partition walls 51 may beemployed within the notches 47 at either or both ends of the basicfiling tray or device. If preferred, one or more of the auxiliarypartition walls 51 may be inserted upwardly through the central slots 46to provide additional optional storage compartments. The auxiliarypartition walls 51 need not be employed at all if preferred.

FIGURE 8 also shows a modified type of U-shaped double partition wall 54which may be employed along with one or more of the partition walls 51or separately therefrom. The U-shaped partition wall 54 is engageableupwardly through any selected pair of the slots 46 with its bottom bightportion 55 underlying the main bottom wall 44 in assembly and stabilizedby the weight of the same. The double auxiliary partition wall 54 isalso adapted to engage within selected adjacent pairs of the notches 47,if preferred. The heights of the elements 51 and 54 in assembly arepreferably equal to the heights of the upstanding fixed partition walls39 and 42, and the widths of the elements 51 and 54 are such that theirvertical edges will engage snugly but slidably within the ends of theslots 46 and notches 47.

Another small optional variation in the embodiment of FIGURES 5 through8 resides in the provision of some- At. what increased areas 56 of metalin the blank 38, and corresponding modification of the shape of the cuts40 along lines 56' to somewhat strengthen the main bottom wall 44 nearits opposite ends as shown in FIGURE 8. This also results in modifyingthe shape of the partition walls 39 as shown at 57 in FIGURE 8. If thissmall modification of the invention is utilized, both end portions ofthe blank 38 are modified in the manner shown and described at 56 and56. The feature is entirely optional and unnecessary to the successfulfabrication of the device but its use does render the device somewhatstronger at its weakest points.

In FIGURE 9, there is depicted a further refinement of the structureshown in FIGURES 5-8. The basic or main filing device shown in fulllines in FIGURE 8 is shown somewhat diagrammatically in broken lines inFIGURE 9 and certain details are omitted for the sake of simplicity. Afiat rectangular anchoring plate 53 or stabilizer formed of Masonite,plastics material, wood or sheet metal is provided, and has a pluralityof narrow equidistantly spaced transverse slots 59 formed therethrough,as shown. Auxiliary L-shaped partition walls 60 similar to the partitionwalls 51 are provided for engagement upwardly through selected ones ofthe slot 59 with their bottom flanges 61 engageable with the lower faceof the plate 58 in assembly. The endmost slots 59 of the plate 58 and apair of intermediate slots are adapted to receive the fixed partitionwalls 42 and 39 upwardly therethrough in assembly, and the plate 58 thenrests fiatwise upon the main bottom wall 44 of the main filing devicewith the auxiliary partition walls 60 adequately stabilized by the plate58. Partition walls 60 are freely adjustable by selecting different onesof the slots 59 of plate 58. Any desired number of the auxiliarypartition walls 60 may be employed with the plate 58 to make additionalstorage compartments between the fixed storage compartments 48, 49 and50 of the main filing device.

In FIGURES l0 and 11, there is shown a modification of the stabilizingplate 58, designated by the numeral 62, for coaction with a modifiedtype of L-shaped partition wall 63. The plate 62 has only one pair oftransverse slots 64 to receive the upstanding fixed partition walls 39of the main filing device. A series of relatively short slots 65 areformed in the longitudinal edges of the plate 62 to receive theupstanding arms 66 of auxiliary partition wall 63, the latter having alower flange 67 sim ilar to the flange 61 of auxiliary partition wall60. The plate 62 and one or more of the elements 63 is employed with themain filing unit shown in broken lines in FIG- URE 9 in generally thesame manner shown therein and described above in connection with theelements 58 and 60. That is to say, the modified plate 62 telescopesover the two intermediate elements 39 and rests upon the main bottomwall 44. The flange 67 of element 63 is sandwiched between the bottomwall 44 and the plate 62, and the arms 65 engage through selected pairsof the edge slots 65 during use of the device.

In FIGURES 12 and 13, there is shown a further embodiment of theinvention for producing a tray-like filing unit 68 with fixed partitionwalls and storage compartments as illustrated in FIGURE 13. For makingthe unit 68, there is initially provided a flat blank 69 shown in FIGURE12. including a central I-shaped area 70 to form the bottom wall of theunit 68 upon completion of the latter. The area 70 is defined bylongitudinal bending lines 71 and transverse bending lines 72 and 73 inthe blank 69. Opposed U-shaped cuts 74 in the blank delineate a singlepair of leaves 75, which when bent upwardly at right angles to the area70, define the intermediate pair of partition walls in the unit 68. Endextensions 76 on the blank 69 when bent upwardly upon the bending line73 constitute the end walls of the filing unit 68 as shown in FIGURE 13.Side narrow rectangular extensions 77 on the blank 69 make the shallowside walls of the unit 68, as shown, when bent upwardly upon the bendingline 71.

In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is believed unnecessary tofurther describe the construction, fabrication or mode of use of thetray-like filing unit 68 having in the form shown three separate file orpaper storage compartments bounded by the walls 77 at the longitudinalsides of the unit. The filing device shown in FIGURE 13 is of one piececonstruction and has the advantage that the papers or files cannot slipfrom the sides of the storage compartments even where the device is usedoutside of a box, such as the box shown in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 13, the side walls 77 of unit 68 are spaced laterallyfrom the partition walls '75 a substantial distance, whereby the filesof considerable width may be accommodated upon the bottom wall 7 itwithin, the several compartments of the unit. For example, regular legalsize files or letter size files may be placed within the unit 68, andthe latter may be used alone or inside of a storage box or filingcabinet drawer as preferred. The openings in the lower portions of theend walls 76, FIG- URE 13 serve conveniently as handle openings forlifting the unit 68.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various chmges in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A filing unit comprising an initially flat elongated substantiallyrectangular bendable stiif sheet material blank, said blank provided ineach of its opposite end portions with at least a pair of interfittingU-shaped cuts having sides parallel to the longitudinal edges of theblank and ends substantially at right angles to said longitudinal edges,the cuts in said end portions of the blank being equidistantly spacedfrom the ends of the blank and the opposite sides thereof and from thelongitudinal center of the blank, the cuts in one end portion of theblank being opposed and in longitudinal alignment with the cuts in theother end portion of the blank and having their ends arranged outermoston the blank, the cuts in said end portions being of substantiallyidentical configuration, at least one cut in each end portion of theblank disposed partially within the confines of another cut in said endportion symmetrically therewith, said blank having spaced paralleltransverse bending lines at the inner ends of said cuts and extendinginwardly from the sides of said cuts at right angles to said sides, saidbending lines terminating inwardly of the longitudinal edges of saidblank and lying with said cuts entirely within the confines of saidblank,- said blank having an additional pair of spaced paralleltransverse bending lines longitudinally outwardly of the aforementionedbending lines and extending between the longitudinal edges of said blankand the sides of the outermost cuts in each end portion of the blank,the last-named bending lines intersecting the sides of said outermostcuts intermediate the ends of said sides and being spaced equidistantlyfrom the ends of said blank, all of said bending lines in each endportion of the blank being equidistantly spaced apart longitudinally ofthe blank and all of said U-shaped cuts being of substantially equallength longitudinally of the blank and the distances between thesecond-named bending lines and the ends of the blank being equal andequal to the lengths of said cuts, upward bending of the portions of theblank within the confines of said cuts on the first-mentioned bendinglines produces on said blank end portions plural upstanding partitionwalls substantially at right angles to the blank and being of equalheight and upward bending of the outermost end portions of the blank onthe second-named bending lines produces on the blank upstanding endwalls of equal height to said partition walls and spaced equidistantlyoutwardly therefrom, said end walls being wider than the partition wallsand extending for the full width of the blank and said partition wallsbeing progressively narrower toward the longitudinal center of theblank, the remainder of the blank then forming a fiat tray base at thebottoms of said partition and end walls at right angles to and integraltherewith and said end walls and nextinnermost partition walls thenhaving through openings defined by said cuts and the innermost partitionwalls being imperforate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS812,002 Bisler Feb. 6, 1906 1,725,702 Cubberley Aug. 20, 1929 2,409,793Punte Oct. 22, 1946 2,598,492 Boes May 27, 1952 2,696,356 Baumann Dec.7, 1954 2,964,230 Nemoede Dec. 13, 1960 V FOREIGN PATENTS 38,302 FranceFeb. 3, 1931 (Addition to No. 686,735) 559,905 Great Britain Mar. 9,1944

